Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-11
HOW TO ADDRESS THE PRESIDENT.
Simply, 1.-The President" and Not His Ex-
cellency, or Even an Honorable.
pntlade1Dhia Times

D
| that not one in thousand can super
/ scribe a letter to their chief executive
( correctly. "His EXcellency" is the ia
vorite title used among educated and cul-
! tivated persons and politicians. This Ii
/ tie is authorized in some states as appli-
cable to the cEief executive CT their sub
ordinate sovereiguties of the nation, aud
is always & safe form of address of q di-
plomatic minister, irrespective of ma
! tiOnality.
! Another improper form commonly used
is honorable" The title 'ho Orable"
| is q subordinate one, and the lowest in
the scale Of titles IF rank in foreign coun-
tries. In the United States il is applied
to elective officers, Senators and Rspre-
sentatives, below that of Vice President,
or to officials holding office by appoiut-
ment from the President and confirmation
by the Senate. Il also applies to COVER
nOr's OF states, judges of courts and
MAYORS of cities. It's abuse is its pro-
miscuous application to state legislators
and others not in national office or Chisf
Office in states. Still another improper
address Is tPresident" with the name of
the incumbent.
The title Of the President was one of
the earliest subjects of controversy, both
III the convention of 1897, among the
trainers Of the constitution, and in 1889,
in the first Congress, which established
many OF the official and social precedents
which were c0incident with the setting in
motion of the machinery OF the new gov
eminent. In the constitutional conven-
ton the subject was elaborately dis
cuSsed. strong party, charged with
monarchical tendencies, favored some
style of additional title for the CHIEF exec
utive officer Of the nation, on the ground
of international as well as ceremonial
considerations. The majority, however,
favored cutting entirely loose from every
appearance of imitation of the forms of
the nations of the old world. This gave
rise to the provision in the constitution
thet ono title OF nobility shall be granted
by the United States"
The struggles over the fixing Of the title
of the President are unique in the light Of
modern views on such subjects. But two
days after the organization Of Congress
and the installation OF John Adams SIS
Vice. President and President Of the Sen
ate that iunctiOnary gave that body a
vigorous lecture or the necessity and pro
priety of titles. Mr.. Adams, having passed
long time at the most brilliant courts of
pletely outgrown his PuritaniC instincts
of lack of reverence for established Gus
toms and practices, political and religious,
among nations and men. Having stirred
up the Republican sentiments of the Ser
ate in making his interest in titles known,
he became involved il preliminary Skin
mish with the House of Representatives
on question OF The proper title for him
RI 1Sa in a5dracSIDU a. official CCmrnuDi I
cation to their Speaker. Having asked
whether he should apply the prefix "hon-
orable," the House administered g /
prompt and decided negative, preferriug
the simple, unblemished official title of
their presiding officer, viz: "Tne Speaker /
Of the House Of Representatives"
a committee on the title of the Presi- |
dent, at the ins.igation of the aristogcatic /
party of the Sera,e, having been appoint /
ed il both houses the subject gave rise |
to a parliamentary battle, which some
times grew rather too threatening to be .
interesting. The New England states, |
Virginia and South Carolina Senators /
were the most active Champions Of high
sounding title. Senatoc Ellsworth Of
Connecticut claimed that all the world, /
civilized and savage, called for titles |
ever since society was organized. The |
simple title, "The President, he thought, /
sounded too much like the presiding off .
Ger of q cricket club or fire company |
Ellis eXcellenCy" was proposed, but |
Withdrawn. and "Highness" substituted, /
with some predatory word like effective"
as ellis Elective Highness George Wash |
ingtOn, President OF the United States" .
claiming that such dignitied title would (
add weight and authority to the office at
home and abroad. The champions Of
titles went over the whole list of the
princes and potentates of the earth in
support of the title 'highness " This
was antagOnized as beneath the dignity
OF the elective ruler Of the United STATES,
on the ground that the grand Turk had
it, that all the princes of Germany and
sons and daus hters OF crowned heads had
it; therefore it was degrading to the
President of the United States TO place
him on par with princes of any blood
in Europe. The committee finally re-
ported to the Senate as The title Of the
President: ellis Hlghness the President
of the United States of America and Pro-
teCt0r OF the Rights Of tie Same"
When this high-hown official desigua-
ton reached the House the contenGiDg
champions became so heated in their re
marks that q rupture was threatened
The anti-title advocates insisted that the
called him "The President of
the United States" and, therefore, that
was his title. The wags of the two houses
nagged their opponents by addressing
them "YoUr HighnesS Of the Senate I
CHS Highness of the Lower House"
This extraordinary discussion con- f;
sumed three weeks of the opening DELHI {
erations of the First Congress Of the '
United States, en- the floor and IL !
committee. At length the obduracy f
OF the House, in support of re- t
publican simplicity and popular sover- &
eighty in titles, as N governmental forms, s
compelled the conference committee, to |
which the matter was finally referred, to c
report their inability to agree. The Sen i
ate committee having decided not to adj b
dress the President as 'thlS eXcellenCy." t
made final reCOmmen iation Of tile es
His Highness, the President of the u
United States of America and Protector n
If Their Liberties" The Senate, seeing
nat their effort to make the President g
titled parsonage in violation OF the con-
'titution was getting too serious, voted ,
o postpone the further consideration of
he question. The following report
which gave expression to the views of :,
he Senate, was then egreed to:
From decent respect for the opinion
nd practice of civilized nations, whether t
nder monarchiCsl or republican forms Il
# government, whose custom is to an "
lex titles Of responsibility to the Office Of 9
heir chief magistrate, and that in inter- I
curse with foreign nations due respect o
or the majesty of the people OF the I;
Jnited Ststes may not be hazsrded by an Ii
ppearance of singularity, the Senate n
ave been induced 10 be of the opinion 9